Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Foreign direct investment, net inflows was 761.14 million BoP, current US$ in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka, 1970–2024
Source: Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D. Measured in BoP, current US$.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 761.14 million BoP, current US$ for foreign direct investment, net inflows in 2024.
That represents a change of up 6.8% on the previous year and down 14.8% over ten years.
Over the whole period, foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka peaked at 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018 and was at its lowest, -1.22 million BoP, current US$, in 1977.
Sri Lanka ranks 109th of 202 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | BoP, current US$ | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | -300,000 BoP, current US$ | — |
| 1971 | 300,000 BoP, current US$ | -200.0% |
| 1972 | 300,000 BoP, current US$ | +0.0% |
| 1973 | 500,000 BoP, current US$ | +66.7% |
| 1974 | 1.40 million BoP, current US$ | +180.0% |
| 1975 | 142,711 BoP, current US$ | -89.8% |
| 1976 | 1,000 BoP, current US$ | -99.3% |
| 1977 | -1.22 million BoP, current US$ | -121957.0% |
| 1978 | 1.47 million BoP, current US$ | -221.0% |
| 1979 | 46.91 million BoP, current US$ | +3081.8% |
| 1980 | 43.01 million BoP, current US$ | -8.3% |
| 1981 | 49.26 million BoP, current US$ | +14.5% |
| 1982 | 63.57 million BoP, current US$ | +29.0% |
| 1983 | 37.78 million BoP, current US$ | -40.6% |
| 1984 | 32.61 million BoP, current US$ | -13.7% |
| 1985 | 26.16 million BoP, current US$ | -19.8% |
| 1986 | 29.72 million BoP, current US$ | +13.6% |
| 1987 | 59.50 million BoP, current US$ | +100.2% |
| 1988 | 45.72 million BoP, current US$ | -23.2% |
| 1989 | 19.74 million BoP, current US$ | -56.8% |
| 1990 | 43.36 million BoP, current US$ | +119.6% |
| 1991 | 48.35 million BoP, current US$ | +11.5% |
| 1992 | 122.63 million BoP, current US$ | +153.6% |
| 1993 | 194.48 million BoP, current US$ | +58.6% |
| 1994 | 166.41 million BoP, current US$ | -14.4% |
| 1995 | 56.00 million BoP, current US$ | -66.4% |
| 1996 | 119.87 million BoP, current US$ | +114.1% |
| 1997 | 430.06 million BoP, current US$ | +258.8% |
| 1998 | 193.42 million BoP, current US$ | -55.0% |
| 1999 | 176.41 million BoP, current US$ | -8.8% |
| 2000 | 172.94 million BoP, current US$ | -2.0% |
| 2001 | 171.79 million BoP, current US$ | -0.7% |
| 2002 | 196.50 million BoP, current US$ | +14.4% |
| 2003 | 228.72 million BoP, current US$ | +16.4% |
| 2004 | 232.80 million BoP, current US$ | +1.8% |
| 2005 | 272.40 million BoP, current US$ | +17.0% |
| 2006 | 479.70 million BoP, current US$ | +76.1% |
| 2007 | 603.00 million BoP, current US$ | +25.7% |
| 2008 | 752.20 million BoP, current US$ | +24.7% |
| 2009 | 404.00 million BoP, current US$ | -46.3% |
| 2010 | 477.56 million BoP, current US$ | +18.2% |
| 2011 | 955.92 million BoP, current US$ | +100.2% |
| 2012 | 941.12 million BoP, current US$ | -1.5% |
| 2013 | 932.55 million BoP, current US$ | -0.9% |
| 2014 | 893.63 million BoP, current US$ | -4.2% |
| 2015 | 679.66 million BoP, current US$ | -23.9% |
| 2016 | 897.05 million BoP, current US$ | +32.0% |
| 2017 | 1.37 billion BoP, current US$ | +53.0% |
| 2018 | 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ | +17.6% |
| 2019 | 743.47 million BoP, current US$ | -53.9% |
| 2020 | 434.08 million BoP, current US$ | -41.6% |
| 2021 | 592.29 million BoP, current US$ | +36.4% |
| 2022 | 884.15 million BoP, current US$ | +49.3% |
| 2023 | 713.01 million BoP, current US$ | -19.4% |
| 2024 | 761.14 million BoP, current US$ | +6.8% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 761.14 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.14 billion BoP, current US$, 67% of the median. (57 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 761.14 million BoP, current US$ is below the median for South Asia, which is 783.67 million BoP, current US$, 97% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | -121957.0% | 1,000 BoP, current US$ | -1.22 million BoP, current US$ |
| 1979 | +3081.8% | 1.47 million BoP, current US$ | 46.91 million BoP, current US$ |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 4.95 million BoP, current US$ | -1.22 million BoP, current US$ | 46.91 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1980s | 40.71 million BoP, current US$ | 19.74 million BoP, current US$ | 63.57 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 1990s | 155.10 million BoP, current US$ | 43.36 million BoP, current US$ | 430.06 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2000s | 351.41 million BoP, current US$ | 171.79 million BoP, current US$ | 752.20 million BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2010s | 950.77 million BoP, current US$ | 477.56 million BoP, current US$ | 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ | 10 |
| 2020s | 676.94 million BoP, current US$ | 434.08 million BoP, current US$ | 884.15 million BoP, current US$ | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 106 Libya 794.70 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 107 Somalia 765.00 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 108 El Salvador 763.72 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 110 Tunisia 759.60 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 111 New Caledonia 725.76 million BoP, current US$ compare
- 112 Bosnia and Herzegovina 716.58 million BoP, current US$ compare
More economy & growth data for Sri Lanka
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 04 - Annual real GDP -8.07 Percent per annum (2022)
- Africa's Development Dynamics (AfDD) Table 02 - Annual real GDP -7.82 Percent per annum (2022)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), gaps 110.33 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0011 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net outflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 5.03 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), gaps filled 761.14 million BoP, current US$ (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), annual 6.75 % change on previous year (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per unit 0.0076 BoP, current US$ per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$), per capita 34.73 BoP, current US$ per person (2024)
- Total reserves (includes gold, current US$), annual growth rate 38.34 % change on previous year (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka?
- Foreign direct investment, net inflows in Sri Lanka was 761.14 million BoP, current US$ in 2024, according to Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D.
- What is the highest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 1.61 billion BoP, current US$ in 2018.
- What is the lowest foreign direct investment, net inflows recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was -1.22 million BoP, current US$ in 1977.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for foreign direct investment, net inflows?
- Sri Lanka ranks 109th out of 202 countries with data for 2024.
- Is foreign direct investment, net inflows rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is down 14.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Balance of Payments database, International Monetary Fund (IMF), note: International Monetary Fund, Balance of Payments database, supplemented by data from the United Nations Conference on Trade and D, published as part of Foreign direct investment, net inflows (BoP, current US$). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Foreign direct investment refers to direct investment equity flows in the reporting economy. It is the sum of equity capital, reinvestment of earnings, and other capital. Direct investment is a category of cross-border investment associated with a resident in one economy having control or a significant degree of influence on the management of an enterprise that is resident in another economy. Ownership of 10 percent or more of the ordinary shares of voting stock is the criterion for determining the existence of a direct investment relationship. Data are in current U.S. dollars.